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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · J Reconstr Microsurg Open 2019; 04(01): e47-e53
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1692453
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Can ReGeneraTing Agents Improve Functional Recovery of Transected Peripheral Nerve through a Nerve Gap Bridged with an Artery Graft?

Authors

  • George Alexopoulos∗

    1   Clinic of Plastic Surgery, Thriasio General Hospital, Magoula Greece

  • Leonidas Pavlidis∗

    2   Clinic of Plastic Surgery, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

  • Myron Tsagarakis∗

    3   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, ENI Medical Group, Kavos Lefkimi, Corfu, Greece

  • Alexandros Delimpaltas∗

    2   Clinic of Plastic Surgery, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

  • Antonios Tsimponis∗

    2   Clinic of Plastic Surgery, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

  • Apostolos Papalois∗

    4   Department of Research and Development, "ELPEN" Pharmaceuticals, Athens, Greece

  • Anna Batistatou∗

    5   Department of Pathology, Panepistimio Ioanninon, Ioannina, Greece

  • Alexandra Papoudou-Bai∗

    5   Department of Pathology, Panepistimio Ioanninon, Ioannina, Greece

  • Denis Barritault∗

    6   OTR3 Company, Paris, France

  • Efterpi Demiri∗

    2   Clinic of Plastic Surgery, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

  • Georgia Alexandra Spyropoulou

    2   Clinic of Plastic Surgery, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

Funding None.
Further Information

Publication History

23 January 2018

15 April 2019

Publication Date:
28 June 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Background The purpose of this study was to use artery grafts filled with CACIPLIQ20 and see if they promote nerve regeneration.

Methods Sixty male Wistar rats were used. The rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups (n = 15): transected control group (negative control group [NCG]), sham-operated group (positive control group [SO]) artery graft group filled with saline (AG/NS), and CACIPLIQ20-treated group (AG/CACIPLIQ20). Fifteen rats were used as artery graft donors. In the SO group, the sciatic nerve was dissected from the surrounding tissues and left intact. In the NCG, AG/NS and AG/CACIPLIQ20) groups, a 10-mm gap was created in the left sciatic nerve. In the NCG group, the gap was not bridged with a graft. In the AG/NS group, the gap was bridged with a graft filled with saline. In the AG/CACIPLIQ20 group, the graft was filled with CACIPLIQ20. Walking track analysis was performed at 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after surgery. At 16 weeks postoperatively, the rats were sacrificed, nerve sections were harvested for histopathology analysis, and the weight ratio of the gastrocnemius muscle was measured.

Results There was no significant difference in myelin sheath thickness between the AG/NS and AG/CACIPLIQ20 groups. Muscle weight in the AG/CACIPLIQ20 group was higher but not statistically significant (p = 0.168) compared with the AG/NS group. Also, AG/CACIPLIQ20 mean was better than AG/NS mean, although there was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.605).

Conclusion There could be an indication that CACIPLIQ20 improves functional recovery of a transected peripheral nerve through a nerve gap bridged with an artery graft.

Keywords

peripheral nerve regeneration - nerve gap - heparin-binding growth factors

Ethical Approval

None.